[This summit, and the various events leading up to it, could be an opportunity for Disabled People Organizations (DPOs) and advocates to heighten the visibility of disability issues within the Latin American and Caribbean regions. Esta cumbre podrían ser una oportunidad para que las organizaciones de los personas con discapacidades y los partidarios aumenten la visibilidad de los asuntos de discapacidad dentro de las regiones latinoamericanas y del Caribe.]

ESTE MENSAJE ESTÁ EN INGLÉS Y EN ESPAÑOL// THIS MESSAGE IS IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH

On June 2, 2008, the Meeting at the Ministerial Level (2008) of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) was held in Medellin, Colombia, within the framework of the 38th OAS General Assembly. At that meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honorable Paula Gopee-Scoon announced that the Fifth Summit of the
Americas will be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on April 17-19 2009. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary General of the OAS, Member States and other Summit stakeholders discussed the preparations for the Fifth Summit, the theme of the Summit, expected outcomes and specific measures to ensure implementation of the Summits
mandates.

The Second Regular Meeting of 2008 of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) was held on July 24, 2008 at OAS headquarters in Washington DC. At this meeting, the Draft Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain was presented by Ambassador Luis Alberto Rodriguez, Coordinator of the National Secretariat for the Fifth Summit of the Americas and Special Envoy for the Americas of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago. This presentation marked the starting point for the negotiation of the Declaration of Commitment which will be adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the OAS Member States at the Fifth Summit. At this meeting, Ambassador Rodriguez, the OAS Secretary General and Member States spoke on the thematic areas of the Draft Declaration and the extensive consultation process led by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. It was noted that the Draft Declaration reflects the concerns of Member States and includes the perspectives of the OAS and the Joint Summit Working Group as well as civil society organizations, the academia
and experts.

As part of the negotiating process of the Declaration of Port of Spain, a series of Regular Meetings of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) will be held during the second half of 2008. The first such meeting will be convened on September 18-19, in Bridgetown, Barbados. Subsequent SIRG Meetings have been scheduled for October 16-17, November
13-14, and December 11-12, 2008 with the venues still to be confirmed.

Additionally, this Secretariat will disseminate a series of Informative Bulletins on the various activities that are being carried out in the framework of the preparatory process for the Summit. These will include information on the inter-American meetings at the Ministerial level, the
calendar of activities, information on dialogues and virtual consultations with social actors through the Summits Virtual Platform, as well as updates on other forums and thematic discussions designed to enrich the work of the different actors involved in the Summits process. To view the Bulletin produced in September, visit the Summits
Information Network.

The Summits Secretariat and the Department of International Affairs-Secretariat for External Relations are making arrangements for a program of consultations with civil society in coordination with the National Secretariat for the Fifth Summit of the Americas of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The objective of these consultations will be to
strengthen the Summits Process, provide space for civil society to voice its perspectives on challenges in the hemisphere, and facilitate the production of a series of recommendations for the elaboration of the draft Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain and in regard to the
implementation of the results of the Fifth Summit. The program of events and activities will be announced in the coming weeks by email and via the websites www.summit-americas.org and www.civil-society.oas.org.

Civil society organizations that are interested in attending the forthcoming 3rd Regular Meeting of the SIRG of 2008 in Bridgetown, Barbados are requested to communicate their interest to the Summits of the Americas Secretariat. For further information, please contact Ms. Jessica
Grebeldinger, Summits Specialist and Civil Society Coordinator (email: jgrebeldinger@oas.org; telephone: 202.458.3554).

The Summits of the Americas Secretariat believes that your participation in the Summit of the Americas Process is essential to making the Summits successful. We value your efforts to promote the inter-American agenda and look forward to your continued participation.

Sincerely,
Summits of the Americas Secretariat
Organization of American States
—

Cordialmente,
Secretaría de Cumbres de las Américas
Organización de los Estados Americanos
Thanks to Lex Grandia, who circulated this notice on several different email discussion lists that I am on.

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